Overall this went without a hitch. Burped the coolant system when i was done and took her for a drive. Temps were hight at first, but i burped it a few times while driving and they went down to around 198.

Somehow all my coolant went back in at one time, maybe because the front of the car was raised up.

The only hitch was the removing the hose. After removing the clamps, those weren't going to come off regardless if I used a blow torch, LOL. Those thing were fused in! I recomand not waiste your time trying to save them and just pull out the box cuttter and slice them out.

I also have to drive the car around a few times in order to refill the the radiator. Made a huge difference in the appearance!

The only hitch was the removing the hose. After removing the clamps, those weren't going to come off regardless if I used a blow torch, LOL. Those thing were fused in! I recomand not waiste your time trying to save them and just pull out the box cuttter and slice them out. I also have to drive the car around a few times in order to refill the the radiator. Made a huge difference in the appearance!

Have you ever seen a gentle dentist remove a childs tooth? I have and that's how I removed my hoses from the heater core. Firm grasp on the hose close to the heater core tube and small (tiny) gentle slow twists back and forth. It will be loose and slide off in short order. I used long needle nose hose pliars with the bent ends.

I know this is an old thread but just wanted to say thanks for the DIY. I installed a SLP supercharger over Christmas and could not believe how those damn heater hoses were in the way. Bought the 2 hoses online and just finished it all up. Looks great! Really appreciate the info. Great and easy mod.

For what ever reason GM decided to have the factory heater hoses run along side the intake. This is a sure way to cause some heat soak which is not what you want when running at the race track. The answer is to relocate them.

The Tech AFX is a very nice looking piece. If you plan to run without an engine cover and want to dress up you engine bay I would go that route. It can be purchased directly from Tech AFX or someone like ADM Performance. The price of the Tech AFX ranges from $175 - $190 just for the heater hose kit.

I went down the generic route because I do use an engine cover and I was able to buy the two hoses off Amazon for $28.55 to my door and then $3 for a set of hose clamps from the local Auto store.

Thanks to BigRed585lbs I bought the Gates hoses off of Amazon. Instead of buying two 5/8 hoses I used the Ύ hose that has a Ύ flare on the angled side and 5/8 on the straight side. They are Gates Heater Hose #18077 and #18078. Notice the Ύ hose is a bit longer and will need more trimming to fit properly.

I also decided to use regular hose clamps on the firewall side since they really wouldnt be seen much and would be easier to work with using a ratchet. For the water pump hoses I chose to use the factory hose clamps. They match up a little better with the rest of the engine bay and they are easy enough to work with.

The process is pretty straight forward:
1. Drain most of the radiator fluid. Use the drain plug on the lower part of the radiator on the drivers side. Catch it in a container that you can use to pour back in when youre done.

2. Take note of which hose goes to which section on the firewall and water pump.

3. Remove the factory hoses. I used a pair of long nose vice grips so that I could just clamp them on and move the clamp out of the way. The water pump hoses come off pretty easy but the hoses connected to the firewall are not as easy and there is limited room. I was able to get one side off with just some twisting back and forth but the other side didnt want to budge. Instead of taking a chance on damaging the heater core, it made more sense to just cut it off. Using a box cutter I just cut a small slit and then peeled it off.

4. Since I used the Gates hose that had the Ύ inlet I need to trim it down because it was much longer than the 5/8 hose. I took about 2.5 off the end using a hose cutter. A box cutter will work if needed. Just try to make it as straight of a cut as you can. Make sure to position the hose clamps so that you can get to them as easily as you can. I put the 5/8 hose on first so that I could double check how much to take off of the Ύ hose. Remember, you can always take off more...you can't put it back on. I also sprayed a little WD-40 on my finger and rubbed it inside and around the hose opening to make it easier to put back on.

5. Run the hoses down though the ABS perch. Its a tight fit especially when routing the second hose.

6. Measure up the hose to the water pump and trim off the extra length of the hose. Re-attach the factory hose clamps.

7. Add the radiator fluid back and allow the radiator to burp. Check the radiator fluid a couple times and then re-check the next day.

In the last pics it's hard to notice the hoses.....but that's the point. The engine cover and CAI draw your eyes away from the hoses going along the side. Again, this a performance thing to help keep your intake from heating up with a pair of hoses running 180+ degree water through it.

to conduct the hose to the housing stock below the abs would not be a problem too. someone tried to hose stock?? I'm thinking of doing. the way of water would be good?

Also, where is the radiator Cap to drain? Do I have to jack car up and remove tire? Or easier way?

Look at post #1, picture 3 & 4. The drain plug it at the bottom left (driver's side) of the radiator. It's unscrews to let the fluid out.

Depending on how low your car is will determine if you have to jack it up or not. When my car was stock height I didn't need to jack it up. After the coilovers went on that would pretty much be the only way.

Found it! Can't get this plug off to save my life. Does it twist or pull off? Tried heating it up and just won't budge

It was a long time ago that I worked with it but I'm pretty sure it's a twist off and I don't think it comes completely out. Just opens up a drain. Not sure that I would use any heat because I think it is plastic. A heavy plastic but still I think it's plastic.